I have PTSD as a result of an abusive childhood, and grad school has in many ways exacerbated the symptoms that I experience on a daily basis. Just a while ago, a professor behaved in an unnecessarily aggressive and dismissive manner towards me, and made me feel publicly humiliated. While other students would also find this experience upsetting, I found it triggering. Luckily, I have been going to therapy for years, and the skills I learned in dealing with “crisis situations” like these were very helpful in averting a full-blown panic attack. Grad school is tough, and individuals with pre-existing mental health conditions often have an even tougher time without others realizing it. That’s why I’ve always thought that the most important thing in academic and professional life is to be kind, even when you have to be critical.
Anecdote #3
